The cream of the nation’s distance athletes along with their South American and Caribbean counterparts will put their talents on display today in the second leg of the IAAF South American 10km Classic.
The event will commence at 15:00hrs on Carifesta Avenue (in front of GT&T), proceed to the University of Guyana and return to the National Park for the conclusion.
First leg winner in Suriname last Sunday, and the winner of the local leg since 2008, Cleveland Forde, will be the one to watch in the men’s division while Euleen Josiah-Tanner (first leg winner) will look for back-to-back victories before the annual event concludes next week in Panama.
Forde will face opposition from Cleveland Thomas (third in the initial leg), Winston Messengher and others while the US based Tanner will be challenged from Trinidad and Tobago’s Tonya Nero, Grenada’s Kenisha Pascal and local standouts, Andrea Foster and Alika Morgan.
As customary, US$1000 will be awarded to the top senior finishers in the men and women’s categories. As an added incentive, the winner of these races will also receive a medal made of Guyana’s famous gold.
The first, second, third and fourth runners up will pocket $US600, $400, $US300 and US$200 along with trophies respectively.
Junior athletes (16-20 years) as well as Masters (Women 35+), Men (40-55) and (56 and above) will also take home trophies and cash prizes.
The top four juniors will receive vouchers or grants valued at US$100, US$75, US$50 and US$25 while the top four Masters (Women 35+), and Men (40-55) will run off with GY$20,000 GY$12,000 and GY$8,000 respectively.
Masters (56 and above) top three finishers will collect G$15,000, G$1,000 and G$5,000 in that order. See you there. (Emmerson Campbell)
